The spectrum of reality TV desperation, illustrated by two new shows

As someone who loves reality television, and loves a great reality TV series, I always root for shows to succeed. I want producers and networks to take risks, and to risk failure to try something new. I want great unscripted art and entertainment, and I want it to do well.

And then I read about shows like the two below and I just roll my eyes and sigh.

It’s as if those in power are thinking: Maybe they’ll watch if we do something totes cray cray! Or: If we just do that show that kinda works but change it this tiny way maybe most of those people will watch, cross our fingers.

A&E’s Fear: Buried Alive, on which three people will be buried alive, live, in coffins on Oct. 26. A&E is pretending there is some kind of purpose here beyond watching pure terror unfold via infrared cameras: The network says the subjects will be “closely monitored under scientific conditions as they endure a series of escalating horrors designed to test the strength of their psyches,” and altogether “it is about enduring and defeating true terror.” Just caught a rerun of Fear Factor, did we?

Fox’s new dancing couples show. Despite Dancing with the Stars‘ existence and declining ratings, and despite already having a flailing dance show, So You Think You Can Dance, which has suffered declining ratings, talent, and creativity—despite, yes, some thrilling highs—Fox is developing a new dance show. This one will have couples training and then performing live dances each week. Deadline says that SYTYCD’s fate and this show are unrelated, and points out that former DWTS producer Conrad Green now has a deal with Fox. Still, this has “tired” written all over it and it hasn’t even been ordered to series yet.

This is the best we can do? Dancing with the Stars with couples and a two-act Fear Factor bit turned into a live special? Despite my reaction, I still will root for them to succeed and be better than their descriptions. But still: ugh.

For some reason—perhaps stories like this one, oh shit—reality TV continually gets defined by its worst elements. But that’s unfair, because all genres have their bell curve: some terrible crap, a lot of average stuff, and some truly excellent works. There is great reality television airing now, from The Great British Baking Show to Survivor to StartupU. And more will come.

Still, it does seem that new reality TV frequently finds a comfortable home at one end this desperation continuum—at least, far more than scripted TV does. A few weeks ago, my friend Joe Adalian reported for Vulture on the state of reality TV. It’s worth a read for theories about the current state of reality TV “fatigue,” illustrated by one anonymous executive who cited “too much of a reliance on gimmicks and twists.” Yes.

Related, I think, is that the overthinking and insecurity that plagues scripted TV has finally caught up to reality TV, too, leading to shows like the above that seem like various kinds of desperate. Coming at shows and ideas from those places will rarely succeed.

A true new hit will it come from trying to shock people into watching, nor will not come from doing the same thing everyone else is doing. It will come from what came 15 years ago, and in 1992, and in 1973: something fresh and new, curious and surprising, authentic and real.

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about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. More about reality blurred and Andy.

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about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.